Fonts from the Flea Market 1353

“I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)” is a song by the English prog rock band The Moody Blues. It was released in 1973 as the second single from their 1972 album Seventh Sojourn, with “For My Lady” as its B-side.

The German sleeve uses three weights from a phototypeface of unclear origin: Melen is shown in a 1973 specimen by European typesetting chain Typeshop as well as on a 1974 poster by Conways’ Photosetting in London. Melen also appears in catalogs by Lettergraphics (and also Castcraft), but it’s unlikely that it originated at Lettergraphics: the Conways poster has a section dedicated to designs obtained from the Californian company, but Melen is listed elsewhere.

All glyphs are composed of straights and arcs. The fonts came with dozens of alternates – see the two forms for A in the third line. The family has six styles with unconventional names: Plump (bold), Girth (medium), Juicy (light), Sunny (extralight), Meek (thin), and Sliced (like Plump, but outlined). Three styles were combined in this Use, partly with lowered glyphs and with overlapping lines.

[More info on Discogs]

The boldest weight, Melen Plump, with its many alternates, shown in Lettergraphics’ “Do a Comp” specimen issued sometime between 1968 and 1975